We are always trying to do too much.
In our marriages, in our friendships, in our communities, and in our jobs.
Our tendency is to naturally say, “Yes.”. We accept far more than we can handle.
Recently, I have been asking myself, “Why?”. Why is it our tendency to overbook ourselves? To schedule two important meetings at the same time? To accept a board position for two local nonprofits when we only have time for one? To join 2 small groups at church?
All of it is driven by our desire to be accepted. And to be accepted, we feel like we need to be good at something. So, in our hopes of being good at something we take on anything that people offer us, because if it’s being offered, there must be an underlying reason why.
The honest truth is that if you wake up in the morning, there will always be opportunities in front of you.
This doesn’t mean you have to say, “yes” to all of them. Less is more.
It means you get to decide which path you will head down. But here’s a secret – saying “yes” to everything is the equivalent of spinning in a circle. Your feet will always be moving, but you will never make any progress.
I, more than anyone, need to stop trying to be decent at everything and need to be really spectacular at one or two things. I have always been good at a lot of different things. Unfortunately, I have never really known what it is like to be phenomenal or great at something.
I recognize this is because I have spread my efforts too thin over too many different options. I recognize that I say “yes” to way too many things months ago, but it is just as big of a struggle today as it was then.
How do we learn to say “no”? How do we learn to temper the excitement that comes with new opportunities in order to see them more clearly? What does it take to distinguish great opportunities from the good ones?
I’m asking you honestly. I do not have a great system for deciphering these kinds of things and I need one. Too often I find myself enamored by the flashiness of a good opportunity, all while missing the great opportunity already sitting in my lap.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this. I’m all for cutting back and being really great a few things, but as of right now I am not there.
As always, thanks for reading and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!